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Šramaņa Bhagavān Mahāvīra then removed his doubt by explaining the correct interpretation of the verses of the Vedas.
The verse in question is FRESAT ufatti Jarā maryam yadagnihotram. Sacrifice to Agni afat the God of Fire-should be done till extreme old age The meaning of the verse is that a man desirous of Fact Svarga,-Going to Heaven,-should depend upon THET Agnihotra,-Sacrifice to God Agni-as the only means of attaining his object. The performance of Agni. hotra cannot become the means of acquiring 1 Mokşa, Final Emancipation,-as it is attended with the destruction of many living beings. No other practices suitable for the accomplishment of Moksa have been enjoined in the Vedas. One is there-by led to the conclusion that there is no Mokşa. Another verse agut afaga, TCHTË ga, qi, Fiala, Atrai aafa Dvé Brahimaņi véditavyé, paramaparam ca, tatra param satyajñānam anantaram Brahméti. Two varieties of sacred Knowledge are to be recognized. One is of another is AqT Param and Aparam; q1a Para Jñāna is 281a Satya Jnāna, Right Knowledge. The other is JHTIA Brahma Jñana Knowledge of HIRT Mokşa or Final Emancipation which is indicative of the presence of Mokşa. Your doubt has been caused by the varieties of ideas in the two verses. The meaning of the two verses amounts to this-A man desirous of going to heaven may perform Haci Agnihotra,-Sacrifice to Agni,-and a man desirous of acquiring Mokşa,Final Emancipation-should leave aside Agnihotra and perform religious practices suitable for the accomplishment of Final Emancipation.
Right Knowledge, Right Perception, and Right Conduct lead to 887 Karma-ksaya,-Destruction of all Karmas or AHATI Moksa Mărga,-the Path of Final Emancipation. It can be accomplished only during Agronfa Manuşya gati,Hunian Existence. The devout sages who are keenly intent on strictly observing the prescribed rules of religious practices are enabled to make themselves free from the miseries of this world, and they alone are able to attain Final Emancipation.
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